Tips to Declutter Your Home
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The process of decluttering was one of the best things I did for myself. I took some pointers and tips from other minimalists online and those who lived in tiny houses. Decluttering my life and home brought exponential freedom to pursue what I love and to buy more things that I actually enjoy!
I don’t know if you want to live in a tiny home or not, but either way, make room for the new and better things you’d like to have.
I wanted to share all the information I saved while decluttering with you.
It may take some time, but the accomplishment you will feel from clearing space is so worth it.
Where to Begin?
If you are ready to declutter your home and life, it may be helpful to start with recycling anything that doesn’t work or that you don’t use anymore. If you are not sure where to start, I’ve compiled a small list for you:
- Televisions
- Computer Modems
- Telephones
- Chords and Christmas Lights
- Metals
- VHS tapes, Cassettes, and CDs/DVDs
Your local recycling center may take these things, so always check with them first.
Electronics:
If you have old electronics that you don’t use or that don’t work, Best Buy may take them and you can also trade in certain items. Click here to check what items they take.
Digitizing your Electronics:
Not only can you digitize your photographs nowadays, but you can buy digital copies of your favorite movies and shows from iTunes or Amazon. I was amazed at all the space I freed up by digitizing movies and cds and getting rid of the hard copies.
Do you have old film from childhood and family photographs? With these contraptions you can put your old film on digital as well, clearing up tons of space in the basement.
VHS, Cassettes, CDs and DVDs:
Green Disk is especially nice if you have a large amount of E-waste or Technotrash to get rid of, as you can fill a box or can full and send them by mail. If clearing out an estate, this can be helpful. Green Citizen can also wipe a computer for you for a fee.
Other non-working electronics:
Sometimes Goodwill will take non-working electronics and non-working chords off your hands to recycle for free. Check with your local store.
Christmas Lights:
Because of the complicated recycling process of Christmas lights, it is difficult to recycle them. Therefore, it is a bit tricky to find a place to take them. Of course, it is not recommended to send the to a landfill due to the components. It is still best to recycle them.
Sometimes hardware stores like Home Depot will take them around the holiday season, so it would be helpful to check with them first. If not, Environmental LED, Holiday LEDs or Christmas Light Source are three recycling centers that will take Christmas lights year round. You can mail them if need be. If you have old Christmas lights, even broken or non working lights, you can send them to Holiday LEDs (or drop them off if you are near their location in WI). Christmas Light Source is located in Texas, and Environmental LED is located in Michigan, so look into the best option depending on your location and needs.
VHS tapes and cassettes may be more difficult to recycle. You may also have home videos that you would like to be destroyed so that no one can take them. If your local recycling center does not take them for recycling, you can mail them to Green Citizen or Green Disk where they will be disposed of properly, with each component broken down.
Mattresses:
1-800-got-junk will take away mattresses and many other large recyclables. I called them to take a mattress and they were timely and friendly, with the fee very affordable. They may also take metals. Check their fees or schedule by visiting the website or giving them a call.
Bibles and Christian Reading Materials:
I absolutely love Love Packages! They send Bibles and Bible Study materials all over the world. If you have a Bible, Devotional, or Bible study book that you do not use, you can send it to them. They have collection agencies in Butler, Illinois and Decatur, Alabama.
Donations:
Medical Equipment:
Do you have crutches or other medical equipment that you do not need? I felt really great after donating a medical boot years ago and CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA will take them as well. You can send the equipment, or drop them off at one of their many locations across the USA. There is great need for these items in Africa, so you can be sure they will be appreciated. If you have a baby stroller or wheelchair, they will accept those as well.
Vietnam Veterans of America/Veteran’s Voice Thrift Stores:
Sometimes it is easiest to donate your items and receive a tax receipt, rather than trying to sell it. Many thrift stores will donate proceeds to a cause with great need. Two of these are the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veteran’s Voice Thrift Stores. Vietnam Veteran’s of America will give you a UPS label so you can send your things to them for free, and they will send you a tax receipt in the mail. You can get a UPS label from them here.
Wedding Things:
Adorned in Grace:
If you have a wedding dress that is 5 years old or less, you can donate it to Adorned in Grace, a faith-based organization which fights human trafficking.
Success in Style:
Have a vintage wedding gown or other ball gown? Check Success in Style.
If you want to donate wedding flowers instead of trashing or drying them, check the Twice Loved Flowers page, as there are many organizations listed who will give your flowers to nursing homes and hospitals, among others.
Worthy:
If you have a diamond ring that you’d like to sell, Worthy will do all the work for you – you won’t have to worry about personal contact with the buyer.
Selling your valuables:
Garage Sale:
I sold so many things at a good old-fashioned garage sale (even those things I did not intend to sell)! However, I had to really mark things down. If you want to get rid of things, give people a good price and they will be happy! Your best bet may be during a community garage sale, as these are more well-known and marketed, and people from the entire surrounding area will flock to the town.
Consignment Stores:
Consignment is the way to go if your things were costly or sentimental. Knowing you will get something for them makes it more worthwhile. You can search your area online to see if there are consignment stores near you. One consignment shop in my area paid me 60% of the item’s sale price, which was much more than a garage sale would have gotten for my things.
Clothing:
Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor are two chain consignment stores for clothing. They pay you on the spot for your items, so it is a done deal before you leave. Click to see if they have a store near you.
Thredup is an online clothing consignment store that will send you a cleanout bag, then sell your things for you. One downside is that they will only take certain brands. To order a cleanout bag, click the link.
Swap:
Another online clothes consignment shop that will sell your clothing for you. You have to make an account and send in your things, but they will do all the work for you. Check their website also for the percentage you can make on your clothes.
Musical Instruments:
Musical instruments can be sold at Music Go Round and Guitar Center. You can check to see if there are any shops in your area.
Also, stores like Rogue Music will consign your instrument, which might fetch more for you, and they will take a percentage of the sale price.
Some other consignment options online:
Ebay is another option, but if you don’t want to mess with the hassle of posting items yourself, there are eBay consignors who will see them for you. One such consignor is: Power Selling Mom.
If you have a working cell phone and you want to get some money instead of recycling it, check buy back world. Even better are the ecoAtm where you can simply take your unwanted cellphone and put it in the kiosk.
If you have old jewelry, even broken chains and rings, Cash for Gold USA will pay you for them. They will send you an appraisal kit envelope and you can send them in. They pay via check or PayPal (if you accept their offer).
Lasly, online pawn shops such as Pawn America are another avenue to make money from your unwanted things.
